The board game "Legless in London," which explores the experiences of lower-limb amputees in Victorian London, has won an international award. Players navigate the challenges and opportunities of the era, attempting to achieve life goals such as buying property and finding love. The game is based on research by Dr. Ryan Sweet, who authored a book on prosthetic body parts in 19th-century literature.
"Legless in London" was awarded Best Board or Tabletop Game for Impact at the Games for Change Awards ceremony in New York. The game was designed by Focus Games with input from Dr. Sweet and Swansea University, incorporating feedback from disabled community members, including Disability Arts Cymru.
The design prioritizes accessibility with features like easy-read rules, large fonts, and digital assets compatible with screen readers. A free app also reduces the game's physical and cognitive demands.
Dr. Ryan Sweet commented: “The game aims to give more positive and nuanced representations of disabled people and disability in tabletop gaming." He noted that disability history has been largely absent from such games until now.
Since its release in February, "Legless in London" has engaged over 170 players at launch events, receiving positive feedback. Dr. Sweet and Focus Games are now working on inclusive design guidelines for other tabletop games.
For more information about the game, visit www.leglessinlondon.com.
"Legless in London" is produced under a commercial agreement between Swansea University and Focus Games Ltd., supported by the Arts and Humanities Research Council.